The desire to have a son—specifically to fill the eldest son role in the family—is what drives the skewed sex ratio. [...] The Desire to Have a Son—Specifically to Fill the Eldest Son Role in the Family—Is What Drives the Skewed Sex Ratio The skewed sex ratio is concentrated at last births in the family, in cases where the previous children are daughters (Jayachandran 2015). [...] The figure plots the sex ratio of births reported in NFHS, pooling the third to fifth waves and including births up to eight years before the survey. [...] Column 1 of Table 1 examines the effect of female education on the sex ratio (defined as the percent of children who are sons) that the respondent desires at a family size specified by the surveyor. [...] The net effect is shown in Column 3 of Table 1, where the outcome is the percentage of sons desired at the desired family size using the standard DHS-type question.
- Pages
- 34
- Published in
- India
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction 1
- 2. Gender Gaps in Health Inputs and Outcomes 2
- 2.1. Gender Gaps in Child Health Inputs and Outcomes have Narrowed in Recent Years 3
- 2.2. Nonetheless Girls Remain Disadvantaged in Important Ways 6
- 2.3. Unfortunately Making Health Services Free Might not be Enough to Close the Remaining Gender Gaps 7
- 3. Eldest Son Preference and Fertility Patterns 8
- 3.1. In Addition to Gender Gaps There are Also Stark Health Gaps between Eldest Sons Who Tend to be Favored and Other Sons 9
- 3.2. The Desire to Have a SonSpecifically to Fill the Eldest Son Role in the FamilyIs What Drives the Skewed Sex Ratio 9
- 3.3. Unlike Gender Gaps in Child Investment the Desire to have a Son Shows Little Sign of Abating 10
- 3.4. The Downward Trend in Family Size is Exacerbating How the Desire for a Son Translates into Sex Selection 13
- 3.5. Families Quest for a Son Also Has Collateral Damage on His Sisters Health 13
- 4. Policy Implications 14
- 4.1. Empowering Women is not a Panacea that will Solve the Problem of Son Preference 14
- 4.2. Offering Financial Incentives to Have Daughters Risks Further Concentrating Girls in Poorer Families 16
- 4.3. We Do Not Know Which Policies Will Erase the Disadvantages Girls Face in India but There Are Several Policies That Warrant Pursuing or Testing 17
- 4.3.1. u s D h i h C 17
- 4.3.2. G - o - s 18
- 4.4. Changing Hearts and Minds 19
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao 19
- References 19
- Dilip Mookherjee 22
- Boston University 22
- Farzana Afridi 22
- Indian Statistical Institute 22
- Fertility Choice 22
- Investment Preferences 23
- Policy Interventions 24
- Gender Gaps 24
- Case Study Low Adoption of Technology That Can Improve Womens Health and Productivity 26
- References 28
- Ajay Mahal 28
- University of Melbourne and NCAER 28
- Introduction 28
- Thoughts on the Paper plus Some Speculation 29
- Reference 31
- General Discussion 31
